RHODRI Morgan came face to face with himself last night as a new portrait of the former First Minister was unveiled.

At a packed event at the National Assembly, he pulled the curtain off the painting by Cardiff artist David Griffiths and said: “I’m really pleased with that.

“Any portrait is not a photograph. If you just want a likeness you get a cameraman and you take a portrait. What a portrait by a painter is supposed to do is to take the essence of the person and that’s not the same thing at all as just taking a photograph.

“I haven’t had a chance to look at it from the front yet, but I quite like it from the side and I’m really delighted.”

It shows a relaxed Mr Morgan, who spent two months on and off sitting for the artwork, sat against a stile in casual clothing enjoying the Welsh countryside.

Reiterating the tale of Graham Sutherland’s 1954 portrait of Winston Churchill, which the then Prime Minister and his wife hated so much Lady Clementine burnt it, the AM for Cardiff West said: “I haven’t consulted Julie but I don’t think this one’s going to get burnt.”

The portrait was commissioned two years ago and paid for by contributions from a public appeal, including from AMs and parliamentarians from all parties.

Mr Griffiths, born in Liverpool and brought up in Pwllheli, Gwynedd, trained at the Slade School of Fine Art, University College, London. He has previously painted portraits of the Prince of Wales, Lord Tonypandy, Lord Callaghan, Rowan Williams and Barry John.

He said: “I met up with Rhodri at the Assembly and asked him whether he had any idea how he would like to be portrayed. Most people say ‘I’ll leave it to you’, but Rhodri was very hands-on and had some very clear ideas.

“He said there were possibly two options: ‘One of me as First Minister at the office, or I’m very much a country person, I love going for country walks with my dog.’

“I don’t think any artist is ever entirely happy with a painting; it’s impossible. But it’s what Rhodri thinks of it that’s important.”